When the whistle blows and you start to sprint down to the goal line and back for the 10th time you ask yourself,
"Why do I take part in a sport again? Why do I put myself through this everyday?"
I am being brutally honest here; every athlete has had this thought in their head at one point. If you haven't before, let me know because I want to be you. In all seriousness though, us athletes play sports for many, many reasons. Some of us play because it helps us with anxieties or provides a place to let off steam. Others play a sport because they love it with their heart and they can't imagine life without it. Why do I play lacrosse? Well for starters, I love lacrosse so much. It is kind of a whole family affair in my house too. But, there is one more reason I play lacrosse as well. I play lacrosse for those who cannot play themselves.
Last year one of my lacrosse coaches unfortunately passed away. My team adopted the motto of PFJ. Play for Jim. Every time we took the field we played with him in mind. Some of my teammates even got tattoos in memory of him. He loved lacrosse so much and was, and still is to this day, so influential to so many people.
Camron Cozzi is just your typical 15-year old boy who loves lacrosse. He lives in my hometown and both he and his family have been apart of our lacrosse community for many years now. This last December though, Camron was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). DIPG is a rare form of brain cancer that is unfortunately inoperable. He and his family have been told that his disease is incurable. However, we know that he is a very strong person with great spirit and he is not giving up.
In support of Camron, a movement has been created. #Teamcozzi. It started as just a local movement with the Lake Tapps Lacrosse Club but his story has quickly spread through Washington State. Teams all over the state are wearing Team Cozzi socks and shirts. It just goes to show how close the lacrosse community is in Washington. When one of our own starts to struggle, we are all there to pick them back up. Camron's story even reached world famous lacrosse player Paul Rabil who then in turn made a personal shout out video to Camron.
Even with the spreading awareness of DIPG, it is still an unrecognized form of cancer. Me and the other 100's of members of Team Cozzi are trying to to change that.
The awareness of DIPG needs to grow so that we make this incurable disease curable. We are not going to stop fighting until it is gone for good. Camron is incredibly strong man brave but he doesn't need to fight alone.
Trust me, as an athlete, I hate getting injured, it is miserable. I hate sitting on the sidelines and watching my teammates play, a scenario I am pretty familiar with. But maybe next time you roll your ankle, and have to sit for a day, remember Coach Leake. Remember Camron. Remember someone in your own life who can't play the sport they love anymore. In perspective, a rolled ankle is not all that bad and you should be thankful for the ability to play again soon.
When you are running those sprints and you want to just quit, remember those who would do anything to be able to be on the field. They would love to be running those sprints if it meant that they would be able to play the game that they love.
Play your game for those who can't play.
For more information on Camron's story, or if you would like to donate to the Team Cozzi cause, check out these websites!
man running in forestPhoto by 
